TYPES OF

SMART
MATERIALS
 SHAPE MEMORY
ALLOYS
(SMART METALS, MEMORY METALS, MUSCLE WIRE, SMART ALLOY)
 It  is an alloy that "remembers" its
original shape and that when deformed
returns to its pre-deformed shape when
heated. 

 When a SMA is in martensite form at

lower temperatures, the metal can easily
be deformed into any shape. When the
alloy is heated, it goes through
transformation from martensite to
austenite.
 TYPES OF SMA’s
ONE WAY SMA TWO WAY SMA
 SUPERELASTICITY

■ Superelasticity (Pseudoelasaticity) assume as an reversible response to stress, caused by

phase transformation in SMA materials.
■ Unlike SMA, Superelastic materials may realize the reverse deformations without
temperature applications.
■ Example :
– Frames of reading glasses
SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY
Some Examples are:

 Dental Wires : used for braces and dental

arch wires, memory alloys maintain their
shape since they are at a constant
temperature, and because of the super
elasticity of the memory metal, the wires
retain their original shape after stress has
been applied and removed.

 Eyeglass Frame : In certain commercials,

eyeglass companies demonstrate eyeglass
frames that can be bent back and forth,
and retain their shape. These frames are
made from memory metals as well, and
demonstrate super-elasticity.
THERMOELECTRIC
 These materials, when subjected to any
temperature difference, produces
proportional voltage output. The reverse
effect is also true.

 Thermoelectric materials are used in

thermoelectric systems for cooling or
heating in some applications, and are
being studied as a way to regenerate
electricity from waste heat.

 It is based on Seebeck Effect and Peltier

Effect.
SEEBECK EFFECT AND PELTIER
EFFECT
 A commonly used thermoelectric material
in such applications is bismuth telluride
(Bi2Te3).

 Some applications of Thermoelectric

Materials are:
 Seat Cooler/Warmer
 Can Cooler
PHOTOCHROMIC
MATERIALS
 Photochromic materials change reversibly
color with changes in light intensity. 

 Usually, they are colorless in a dark place,

and when sunlight or ultraviolet radiation
is applied molecular structure of the
material changes and it exhibits color.
When the relevant light source is removed
the color disappears. 

 Photochromic lenses become dark when

they are exposed to UV Radiation

 Once the UV Radiation is removed, the

lenses gradually return to their normal
state. They can be either be made of glass
and plastic
 General materials are:

 Azobenzene
 Diarylethene
 Spiropyran
 Silver Chloride
THERMOCHROMIC
MATERIALS
 A Thermochromic material is a property
of substance to change color due to a
change in temperature.

 An example is a Mood Ring.

 Ring is blue ; then the person must be

happy
 Ring is yellow ; then the person must be
anxious
 Continuous Thermochromism

 Thermochromic effect occurs over a

range of temperatures which is observed
as a gradual color change
 Discontinuous Thermochromism

 Involves a structural phase change at the

transition temperature
 CONTINUOUS
THERMOCHROMISM
 DISCONTINUOUS
THERMOCHROMISM
SELF-HEALING
MATERIALS
 SELF HEALING MATERIALS
 Have the intrinsic ability to repair damage due to normal usage, thus expanding the
materials lifetime.
 Although the most common type of self-healing materials are polymers or elastomers,
self-healing covers all classes of materials including metal, ceramics, and cementitious
materials.
 Self-healing polymers may, however, activate in response to an external stimulus to
initiate the healing process.
SELF HEALING MATERIALS
PHOTOVOLTAIC
MATERIALS
 A photovoltaic material is the conversion
of light into electricity using
semiconducting materials that exhibit the
photovoltaic effect.

 A photovoltaic system employ solar

panels which generate electric power.

 It has a specific advantages as an energy

source: once installed, its operation
generates no pollution and greenhouse
emissions.

 It also has a major disadvantage: power

output works best with direct sunlight, so
about 10-25% is lost if a tracking system is not
used. Dust, clouds, and other obstructions in
the atmosphere also diminish the power
output.
PIEZOELECTRIC
PIEZOELECTRI
C
• When subjected to an electric charge or a
variation in voltage, piezoelectric material
will undergo some mechanical change, and
vice versa.

• These events are called the direct and

converse effects. The Direct Effect and the
Reverse Effect
APPLICATIONS TO MATERIALS:
ELECTROSTRICTIVE
 ELECTRO-
STRICTIVE
• This material has the same properties as
piezoelectric material, but the mechanical
change is proportional to the square of the
electric field.

• This characteristic will always produce

displacements in the same direction.
SOME APPLICATIONS:
MAGNETOSTRICTIVE
MAGNETOSTRICTI
VE
• When subjected to a magnetic field, and vice
versa (direct and converse effects), this
material will undergo an induced mechanical
strain.

• A ferromagnetic crystal changes its shape

when subjected to a magnetic field. This
effect is called magneto strictive effect,
discovered 1842 by Joule [17].

 
APPLICATIONS: